Help Ansonia Families Displaced by Devastating Fire

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent

ANSONIA >> Efforts are underway to help five families displaced by a devastating fire last week that claimed everything they owned.

Mayor David Cassetti said the city has joined forces with TEAM, Inc. to help the families following last Friday’s fire at a multi-family home at 122 Liberty St. which spread to a nearby, two-family apartment at 55 Fourth St.

Neighboring fire departments in Derby and Seymour assisted Ansonia Fire Department in dousing the raging blaze.

A second collection effort is underway by resident Missy Lundeen, wife of acting Fire Marshal Darrick Lundeen and creator of “Going the Extra Mile” nonprofit grassroots organization that helps Valley families devastated by house fires.
Read more here:

Fire Marshal: Exact cause likely can’t be determined in Ansonia house fire that burned woman

ANSONIA >> Investigators likely won’t be able to determine the cause of a fire late last week that damaged an Ansonia home and sent a woman to the hospital with burns.

The fire at 31 Webster Drive started around 7 p.m. Friday in the kitchen near the stove, Ansonia Fire Marshal Ralph Tingley said in a phone interview Monday.

But the fire caused so much damage to the electrical wiring near the stove that a final determination of the exact cause likely can’t be made.

Tingley said the woman wasn’t cooking at the time of the fire. She heard strange sounds coming from the rear of the stove and tried to find the source.

Read more here.

Official: Man helps neighbors out of weekend house fire in Seymour

A fire tore through a Clifton Street home in Seymour on Saturday. / Seymour Fire Department courtesy photo.

By Register Staff
SEYMOUR >> An alert neighbor reported a weekend fire at a local home and helped the people inside escape without injury, a fire official said Monday.
The man saw the fire Saturday morning at 14-16 Clifton St. and broke down the door to help the people who lived there, Deputy Fire Marshal Timothy Willis said in a phone interview Monday.
The blaze caused an estimated $600,000 damage and forced firefighters to evacuate the building at one point as the roof became unstable. Officials said Saturday that five people were displaced as a result of the fire.

Read more here. 

4 firefighters injured in Shelton factory fire

Firefighters battled a blaze Thursday morning at the Latex International Foam Factory in Shelton. Photo courtesy of Echo Hose Hook & Ladder Co. 1.

Posted: 06/26/14, 7:04 AM EDT | Updated: 12 secs ago

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SHELTON >> Four firefighters were injured fighting a large fire at the Latex International Foam factory early Thursday morning.
One firefighter suffered a broken arm and was transported to the hospital and three suffered from heat and exhaustion, but were treated on scene, Assistant Fire Chief Nick Verdicchio said in a phone interview shortly after sunrise.
Crews and the fire marshal were still on the scene early Thursday morning.

Several streets around the scene of the fire, including a lengthy stretch of River Road, were closed early Thursday morning but have now been reopened. Drivers should still be careful on Route 8 this morning because the fire could cause some delays on the roads off of Exits 13 and 14.

Verdicchio said firefighters were dispatched to the factory at 510 River Road around 1 a.m. after employees reported smoke in the basement area. The first arriving unit saw heavy smoke coming from the rear of the building.
A heavy fire was found to have originated in the dryers, which are roughly three-quarters of the building, he said. Firefighters began to battle the fire, but it quickly broke through the ventilation system and into the duct work throughout the building.
Crews then pulled out of the building and fought the fire from the exterior of the building.
Once the fire was extinguished on the outside of the building, firefighters returned to the interior of the building and extinguished the rest of the fire, Verdicchio said. It was extinguished a few hours after the initial call, he said.
The building is intact, but sustained extensive water damage. There were no other injuries, he said.

Comcast waives fees for Shelton fire victims

SHELTON - Today, in response to a request by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, cable provider Comcast agreed to waive fees on damaged or destroyed cable equipment for their active customers affected by the massive fire that destroyed an apartment building downtown Jan 6. 

Murphy and Blumenthal released the following statement:

"We applaud Comcast for moving quickly to help families displaced by the terrible fire in Shelton. Many of these families lost everything they owned in this awful disaster, and Comcast waiving these fees will now be money saved for other items as these people work to recover from the blaze. 
"We’re glad that we were able to help facilitate this quick resolution so these residents have one less thing to worry about as they take on the daunting task of getting their lives back to normal.
"We’ll continue to work with those affected to offer any other assistance that we can to help."


This is a press release from Murphy's office.

Spirit of community seen in Shelton

Donations are being sorted and distributed in this storefront on Center Street.

SHELTON - Since the Jan. 6 fire that destroyed a block of businesses and three stories of apartments on Howe Avenue nonprofit organizations, companies, and individuals have come together to help the displaced residents and store owners.

It is truly heartwarming to see something good come out of what can only be described as a  downtown disaster.


From individuals donating food, clothing, household supplies and money, to volunteers handling the massive amount of donations there is a spirit of caring that cannot go unnoticed.

On Monday I met Stratford resident Missy Samaha, who has taken charge of the donations.
She, several friends and a crew of Shelton firefighters have been working tirelessly to assist the 29 residents of the apartment building that was leveled.

They have set up "shop" at 91 Center St. in a storefront owned by firefighter Chris Jones. There, volunteers and victims have become what they call "a new family."

Samaha said residents who lost all their belongings have a chance to socialize at the shop while picking up whatever they need to get their lives back to normal.

These are wish lists posted in the shop. The fire victims need to replace everything they owned,  from TVs and cell phones, to work boots and more.

 

Missy Samaha Monday checks the expiration date on canned food donations. With her is volunteer Todd Dias, who said he lives on Howe Avenue and has been helping since the blaze.

Just some of the donated toiletries available for the displaced residents. 

This is an offer from the Friends of the Shelton Libraries for free books to help fire victims replace what they have lost.


Samaha said donations of gift cards to supermarkets and stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, The Home Depot and Lowe's, in addition to gas cards, would be a great help.


I wish her and her fellow volunteers all the best as they continue to help the displaced residents. 

Victims of Shelton blaze get some good news

Low-interest SBA disaster loans available

SHELTON - A press conference Saturday at Echo Hose Hook & Ladder Company 1 firehouse brought a glimmer of hope to business owners and tenants affected by the massive Jan. 6 blaze downtown.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy Saturday announced approval of Small Business Administration disaster loans for businesses and residents affected by a Jan. 6 fire on Howe Avenue. He made the announcement at Echo Hose Hook & Ladder Company 1 firehouse in Shelton. With him are, from left, U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, Lt. Gov. Nancy S. Wyman, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4, and Bernard M. Sweeney, SBA Connecticut district director.  

 

Mayor Mark A. Lauretti  said opportunity will come out of the tragedy. "When one door closes, another one opens," he said. 

 Malloy meets with Echo Hose firefighter and training coordinator Kevin Lantowsky, center,   and firefighter Chris Jones before the press conference. 

U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, greets Shelton resident Michele Bialek and her daughter, Bridget, 3, before the press conference. 
Bialek and her husband, Fred Bialek, own Liquid Lunch, which was destroyed by the fire. The Bialeks operate two other Liquid Lunch locations, but she said they lost "a third of their heart" in the blaze.

Shelton firefighter wins kudos for rescue

Shelton volunteer firefighter Chris Jones points to where he saw an 'orange glow' coming from a window on the first floor of a house on Howe Avenue.

I didn't want to let the day go by without giving a huge shout out to Shelton volunteer firefighter Chris Jones.

On Wednesday Jones happened to see a fire in a multi-family house on Howe Avenue in Shelton.

Without a second thought he ran to the house and led four residents to safety.
A fifth occupant, who was in the apartment where the fire started, died Thursday morning.

 
Jones not only showed bravery and quick thinking, he demonstrated for all to see his dedication to the city he calls home.

This is the front of the house at 593 Howe Ave., Shelton as it looked the day after the fire.

Shelton man found in Howe Avenue fire identified

By Charlotte Adinolfi, The New Haven Register

Posted: 01/23/14, 10:37 AM EST |

 

SHELTON >> The man who was found during a fire in the first-floor apartment of 593 Howe Ave. Wednesday night has died, according to fire officials.

Fire Marshal Jim Tortora said that Michael Boroski, 52, died Thursday morning after being taken to the Bridgeport Hospital burn unit, following his removal from the burning building Wednesday evening.
Tortora said he is uncertain of the cause of death but Boroski was the only occupant in the first-floor apartment where the first started in the living room.

Firefighters had responded to the scene just after 5 p.m. Wednesday and found flames coming out the rear window of the first floor unit.

Tortora said a firefighter who happened to be near the address at the time helped the three occupants of the second-floor apartment escape safely before firefighters arrived, and the occupant of the basement apartment was not home at the time.

When firefighters entered the home, they found Boroski semi-conscious on the floor of the apartment. He was immediately taken to a waiting ambulance outside. The fire was under control within 20 minutes.

Tortora said the state Fire Marshal and the Shelton Police Department had been called in to help investigate, and they were on the scene until around 12:30 a.m. Thursday. Fire officials believe the cause of the fire was reckless use of smoking materials.

Tortora said all the occupants of the residence are staying with family or friends.

Rubble remains at site of fire in Shelton

This is how the block on Howe Avenue in Shelton destroyed by an early-morning fire Jan. 6 looks today (Jan. 14).

Shelton firefighters create donation form

This information is taken from a post today on the Echo Hose, Hook & Ladder Company's Facebook page:
 

"UPDATE - To relieve some stress off our volunteers we have created an online form to fill out for certain donations.
If you would like to donate items such as furniture, pots/pans, electronics, hand tools etc please go to ( http://donation.echohosefd.com ) and fill out the form.
This information will be collected and distributed to our volunteers only! We will have a similar form soon for people with information on apartments/homes for rent."


Note: The donations will go to the 28 displaced people who are victims of Monday's fire that leveled the Kreiger Block on Howe Avenue in downtown Shelton.

DeLauro commends firefighters, community after Shelton fire

 U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, Tuesday helps volunteers sort donations of clothing for 30   displaced fire victims at Echo Hose, Hook & Ladder Company firehouse. Patricia Villers/Register

By Patricia Villers, New Haven Register

Posted: 01/07/14, 7:58 PM EST | 

   

SHELTON >> Heroism and compassion.
These qualities were in the spotlight Tuesday as U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, commended firefighters who saved lives as they battled a blaze Monday on Howe Avenue.
 
The fire destroyed seven businesses and three stories of apartments above.

DeLauro and Bernard Sweeney, director of the Connecticut Small Business Administration, addressed business owners and fire victims at Echo Hose, Hook & Ladder Company firehouse, yards away from the still-smoldering scene.
“This is a miraculous place,” DeLauro said. “Thank God for the firefighters. There was no loss of life because of our professional first responders.”
DeLauro said the piles of clothing and other donations collected at the firehouse since early Monday “is a testament of the good people of this community to let you know you are not alone.”

She told the displaced tenants at the meeting that her office is committed “to work with the city, the state, and all of our nonprofit organizations to bring some relief.”

DeLauro said she was also speaking on behalf of her colleague, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4, who was unable to attend. DeLauro and Himes share Shelton as a jurisdiction.
Officials said the blaze started in the basement of the building that has stood on Howe Avenue for more than a century. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Sweeney said the Small Business Administration “offers an array of assistance” to fire victims. “If it doesn’t reach the level of a federal disaster, there are other loans to consider.”
Sweeney said meeting face-to-face is always preferred, but said he couldn’t guarantee that solutions will be fast.
“When the smoldering is done, we will be able to see the damages and see what is insured and what is not insured,” he said.
Officials said thanks to posts on social media outlets, donations of clothing, food, household items and more started pouring into the firehouse.
Firefighter Kevin Lankowski, who is coordinating the relief efforts at the firehouse, said donations had been coming in around the clock. Huge piles of clothing, blankets, towels and more sit on long tables set up on the firehouse’s second floor.
Himes was unable to attend the meeting but his aide Tyrone McClain was there to represent him.
“We are going to do everything we can to help,” he said.

Fire Chief Francis Jones said, “It was a tremendous, heroic job by all of our firefighters. The recovery is going to be a communitywide event.”
Jones said there are “hot spots in the basement” of the burned-out building, and the fire marshal’s office is doing its “due diligence” in seeking the cause.
Michele Bialek, an owner of Liquid lunch, a restaurant at 434 Howe Ave. destroyed in the blaze, said there are ”amazing people” in the community.
“I can’t say enough about the Echo Hose firefighters,” she said.

Elaine Matto, who owns the building with her husband, Ralph Matto, said, “I’m just in awe of the firemen here. I know most of you were up all night in that horrible condition. You did save lives, and it’s totally heroic.”
Displaced tenant Bob Walden said, “I want to say thank you to all the firemen and the Red Cross.”

DeLauro said, “Our goal is to see how quickly we can get people back on their feet.”
 

 

U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, left, listens to Connecticut Small Business Administration Director Bernard Sweeney speak Tuesday to business owners displaced after Monday’s fire on Howe Avenue in Shelton. Building owner Ralph Matto is on Sweeney’s left. Patricia Villers/Register 




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DeLauro visits Shelton, meets fire victims

U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, meets Steve Serrato, one of the 30 tenants displaced after Monday morning's fire destroyed their building on Howe Avenue in Shelton. Serrato said he had lived in the building for about 20 years. DeLauro and Bernard Sweeney, Director, Connecticut Small Business Administration, held a meeting Tuesday with victims at Echo Hose Hook & Ladder Company firehouse in Shelton.

Last of Shelton fire victims to be released from hospital

(Peter Casolino / New Haven Register) Firefighters work the scene at 446 Howe Ave.  in Shelton Monday morning. The fire started at around 12:30am on Monday injuring 5, and displacing around 30-people. pcasolino@NewHavenRegister

By The Associated Press

Posted: 01/07/14, 2:39 PM EST |

SHELTON >> The mayor of Shelton says the final person who received medical treatment following an early morning apartment building fire is being released from the hospital.
Mayor Mark Lauretti called it “incredible” Tuesday there were no serious injuries or deaths resulting from Monday’s blaze, which caused a four-story apartment building in downtown Shelton to partially collapse, displacing about 30 people from their home. At least five were taken to hospitals.
Lauretti said officials are trying to find temporary homes for tenants and ultimately move them into permanent housing. He said some are staying with friends, relatives, a local homeless shelter or hotels.
He said the outpouring of support from the community for the residents has been huge. He said the city has asked the United Way to help organize the donations.

Red Cross, others offer help in aftermath of Shelton fire

   View of aftermath of fire in downtown Shelton. Photo by Patricia Villers/Register



     SHELTON >> The American Red Cross is currently working with 25 people displaced in a multi-unit building fire on Howe Avenue. The Shelton Fire Department and TEAM are also organizing aid for those affected by the fire.
    The Red Cross has been on the scene since Monday morning, working with clients to assess needs for housing, food and clothing. Many residents of the building have been able to make alternate housing arrangements.
   Meanwhile, the local fire department is seeking donations for the immediate needs of the displaced.
   TEAM vice president Diane Stroman said: “We’re trying to assist people in finding apartments.” Stroman said fire victims seeking assistance may call TEAM, 203-736-5420.

Help offered to those displaced in Shelton fire

(Peter Casolino — New Haven Register) Firefighters work the scene at 446 Howe Ave in Shelton Monday morning. The fire started at around 12:30am on Monday injuring 5, and displacing around 30-people. pcasolino@NewHavenRegister

By Patricia Villers, New Haven Register

Posted: 01/06/14, 5:14 PM EST | Updated: 15 secs ago

SHELTON >> George Green lost everything he owned in an early-morning fire Monday in a four-story structure at 446 Howe Ave.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Green said, shaking his head. He had lived in the building for three years. He said he lived on the second floor and was able to help several others out of their apartments.

Firefighters were called to the blaze in downtown Shelton at about 12:30 a.m. Monday.
Authorities said everyone got out before the top floors collapsed into the middle of the century-old building, which housed restaurants and other businesses on the first floor and apartments on the upper floors.
Green and other displaced tenants were given shelter in the Echo Hose, Hook & Ladder Company firehouse.
Green has faith that things will improve for him and all who were affected by the blaze.
“God is going to get everybody back on their feet,” he said. “Everybody has to find homes.”
Green commended the firefighters. “They did a good job,” he said. “I gotta give it to them. They fed us, they did everything. They said, ‘Come in and don’t worry about anything.’”
He said cots were offered to them if they wanted to rest.

Tenant Robert Walden said he had lived in the building for seven years. He sat on a folding chair in the firehouse, waiting to find out where he would be temporarily placed.
“I’m usually the one there, helping others,” Walden said. “[Seeing all the help] is a beautiful thing.”
Residents Bob and Sheri Grier walked several blocks to Echo Hose firehouse with donations of bottled water, underwear and socks. “It’s the least we can do,” Sheri Grier said. “It’s really sad. We want to know what else is needed.”

She said she was impressed at how the community came together quickly to help the victims. She also commended Echo Hose volunteers. “We’ve been supporting this firehouse for years,” she said.
Firefighter Kevin Lankowski was in charge of the operations at the firehouse. ‘We’ve been opened up since the fire. We had to evacuate people for their safety and welfare, especially with this weather.”
There were sandwiches, pizzas, doughnuts and coffee available for the displaced.
Lankowski said there were “approximately 18” people being assisted there. “We‘re placing them with friends and family,” Lankowski said. American Red Cross emergency workers were on the scene, as was TEAM vice president Diane Stroman.
“We’re trying to assist people in finding apartments,” Stroman said. “We also will help people with any special need they might have. One of the men needs eyeglasses, and we’ll try to help him get new ones.”
Stroman said fire victims seeking assistance may call TEAM, 203-736-5420.

The fire brought back memories for resident Judith Smarz Douglas, 74, who called the building her family “homestead.” She was born in 1939 in an apartment on the second floor. She said her parents, John and Millie Smarz, raised her and her three brothers in the apartment.
Douglas’ mother lived in the building for more than 70 years until her death in 2003.
Douglas said she was heartbroken by the fire. “It’s devastating,” she said.

“It’s not a good feeling at all when we got here,” Assistant Fire Chief Nick Verdicchio said. “We had heavy fire showing from the back of the building. It started to come out the front. ... So, we just did a full-court press, trying to get these people out of here and within a half-hour we had a major collapse.”
Firefighters had to bring water to the scene in tanker trucks because of frozen hydrants and an earlier water main break.
A firetruck was damaged when a sign fell on it during the building collapse.

Authorities believe the fire started in the basement. Fire marshals are investigating the cause.

Neighboring resident Laura Oliver walked over to see the scene. She said, “I’m going to miss it. I used to get my Chinese food there, and I used to get my milk at Howe Convenient. And there was a dollar store and a flower store. My son used to work at the flower store. What a mess.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.


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Shelton police update traffic info

SHELTON - Lt. Robert Kozlowsky, police spokesman, said in a release Monday afternoon that Howe Avenue between Center Street and White Street is still closed because this morning's structure fire at 446 Howe Ave. remains under investigation.

The Derby/Shelton Bridge is also closed on the Shelton side.
Motorists coming from Derby will be detoured onto Canal Street to Howe Avenue.
Motorists coming from Shelton will be detoured from Canal Street to the bridge.
All other roads are currently open. 


This is a press release from Shelton Police Department.

Red Cross helping displaced Shelton residents

SHELTON – The American Red Cross is currently working with 25 people displaced in a multi-unit fire on Howe Avenue in Shelton. 

The Red Cross has been on the scene since this morning, working with clients to assess needs for housing, food and clothing. 

Many residents of the building are able to make alternate housing arrangements. 

The Red Cross is providing residents assistance with emergency food and clothing needs.

An update will be issued when more details are available, according to Pual D. Shipman, Chief Communication Officer, American Red Cross in Farmington. 

This is a press release from the American Red Cross.

 

Photos shared from fire in Shelton

View New Haven Register photographer Peter Casolino's media gallery on Monday morning's fire on Howe Avenue in Shelton that displaced 30 people.

Shelton FD seeks donations for fire victims

This is taken from a forwarded e-mail from Echo Hose, Hook & Ladder Company in Shelton:

"We are in need of hot food, blankets, clothing for the displaced residents currently being housed at Echo Hose Fire Company located at 379 Coram Ave....please call Echo Hose Firehouse ..203-924-4200 or 203-924-4241 if you are able to make any donations...Thank you!